79072: Ruling on using aphrodisiacs

What is the ruling on using aphrodisiacs to increase pleasure – at the time of breaking the fast of course in Ramadaan?.

Published Date: 2006-10-11

Praise be to Allaah.

Aphrodisiacs are of two
types:

1 – Natural things, such as
certain types of foods, plants and the like. There is nothing wrong with
consuming these, so long as it is not proven that they are harmful to the
body, in which case they should be avoided because the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There should be neither harming
nor reciprocating harm.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah (2341) and classed as saheeh
by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah. It says in al-Adaab
al-Shar’iyyah (2/463): “It is haraam to use as medicine or kohl anything
that is naajis (impure), or pure but haraam, or harmful, and so on.” End
quote.

In the books of the
scholars there is frequent mention of the benefits of some kinds of food
which are said to increase desire or give one strength for intercourse. For
example, al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, when
discussing the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), “You should use this aloes-wood (al-‘ood al-hindi) for in it
there are seven cures” (narrated by Muslim (5260) and Muslim (4103)):
Aloes-wood (al-‘ood al-hindi) is the well-known Indian costmary, and among
its benefits are that it aids digestion, stirs desire and clears up pimples.
End quote from Fath al-Baari.

The same is also said of
fenugreek, pistachios, carob, melon-seeds and so on. See al-Adaab
al-Shar’iyyah by Ibn Muflih, 7/3 and 2/370, 375.

It is important not to be
extravagant in using such things, or be preoccupied that to such an extent
that one becomes obsessed with looking for foods and drinks that will
increase his desire.

2 – Drugs and medicines
that are used for this purpose. The basic principle concerning these is that
they are also permissible, so long as they do not include anything that is
haraam such as intoxicants, and are not harmful, in which case they are
haraam for these two reasons. But they should not be used unless there is a
need for that, such as being incapacitated, sick or elderly, and in
consultation with a trustworthy medical specialist, because some of them are
harmful and may be lethal, and others are not lethal but there is no benefit
to be gained by using them if one is healthy and has no need of them, even
if they increase desire as mentioned in the question. He spoke well who
said: Medicine is like soap: it cleans the garment but it also wears it out.
So one should avoid using medicines as much as possible.

We will give you an example
of a medicine which has become widespread nowadays, namely the drug called
Viagra. Use of this drug by some people without any medical exam or
consultation has led to a great deal of harm. Concerning this, Dr.
‘Abd-Allaah al-Nu’aymi, a heart specialist in the Zaayid Military Hospital
said during a seminar on aphrodisiacs: This drug has side effects, some of
which are severe. There is a study that was carried out in Canada on 8500
people which found that 16% of them suffered headaches and some of them
suffered redness and heat especially in the face; some of them suffered from
digestive problems and some, especially those who had low blood pressure,
found that their blood pressure dropped to dangerous levels. End quote.

He stated that healthy
people who do not have any health problems should still consult a doctor, if
only briefly, whilst those who had problems, especially any blockage of the
arteries of the heart, must consult a doctor first, because “many of them
take drugs called nitrates, which interact strongly with Viagra. Viagra
prevents this drug from being absorbed by the sick person’s body. We found
that the nitrates were multiplied ten times in some cases, which leads to a
severe drop in blood pressure, and may cause death. We have heard of deaths
which have occurred and most of these deaths happened in such cases, where
the person had a heart attack and he had a blockage in the arteries and was
taking nitrates, so when he took Viagra with the nitrates, the nitrates
multiplied many times and this led to the side effects. End quote.

Secondly:

With regard to taking these
aphrodisiacs, no distinction is made between the nights of Ramadaan or any
other time when it is permissible to eat and drink. What is permissible to
consume is permissible at all times and what is haraam is also haraam at all
times. Allaah has permitted the fasting person to enjoy intimacy with his
wife after breaking his fast, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“It is made lawful for
you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As‑Sawm (the
fasts). They are Libaas [i.e. body-cover, or screen, or Sakan (i.e. you
enjoy the pleasure of living with them — as in Verse 7:189) Tafsir
At-Tabari] for you and you are the same for them. Allaah knows that you used
to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you (accepted your repentance) and
forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which
Allaah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white
thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread
(darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall. And
do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in
I‘tikaaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations
leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques. These are the limits (set)
by Allaah, so approach them not. Thus does Allaah make clear His Ayaat
(proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal and
illegal things, Allaah’s set limits, orders, etc.) to mankind that they may
become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious”